Agadir – Morocco and Finland pledged to strengthen bilateral cooperation with a special focus on water management, research, and innovation following high-level talks in Rabat today.
Morocco’s Minister of Equipment and Water, Nizar Baraka, and Finland’s Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Sari Essayah, who is currently on an official visit to the North African country from March 24 to 27, chaired the bilateral meeting.
Discussions centered on enhancing collaboration in strategic areas related to water governance and research corporations.
In addition to water management, Essayah’s visit has included meetings with Moroccan officials responsible for agriculture, forestry, and related sectors.
The Finnish minister is also scheduled to attend “events organized by Morocco’s National Agency for Water and Forests and discussions on the potential development of research cooperation,” her government said in a press release on Monday.
Finland views Morocco as a promising growth market, particularly for its sawmill industry and environmental technologies, added in the statement.
“Morocco is an important potential growth market for our sawmill industry, and there are considerable opportunities for cooperation involving water expertise,” Essayah said.
“During our visit, we aim to bolster Finland’s reputation as a leading country in sustainable and innovative bioeconomy solutions. I hope the trip will help open doors to new partnerships.”
During today’s meeting, the two sides agreed to create a joint working group dedicated to water-related issues and to develop a roadmap for technical and technological collaboration.
Essayah extended the Moroccan delegation an invitation to participate in the activities of the Mikeli International Water Week, scheduled from 9 to 13 June 2026 in Mikele. The event will “witness the presentation of the latest technologies and global practices in the water resources sector and international cooperation,” the Moroccan ministry stated.
This visit follows a recent trip to Morocco by Finland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Elina Valtonen, who visited the country on March 1 for high-level talks with her Moroccan counterpart Nasser Bourita.
The visit focused on strengthening cooperation in trade, investment, and regional security, while also addressing key international issues such as the war in Ukraine, developments in the Middle East, and the situation in the Sahel and Sudan.
“Finland and Morocco enjoy good bilateral relations that benefit both countries. There is great potential to further expand our cooperation, especially in trade and investments. Morocco is also a key partner for the EU,” Valtonen said before her visit.
